There are many reasons a family chooses this life and education style. Parents choose to homeschool their children to not only provide better suited education for their child's needs but also for spiritual reasons and for feelings of stronger family bonds. Others enjoy the ability to move or travel frequently and keep a consistent schooling environment. Many elite level athletes and others with time consuming interests home school because they are able to accomplish the same amount of education in a much smaller time span. Still others feel they have no choice because of poor quality schools, discipline problems or harassment at schools, difference in values and beliefs with what is being taught, or special needs such as learning disabilities or even children that are exceptionally-abled.
There are many approaches to homeschooling and many teaching philosophies. Some parents elect to duplicate the processes and routines of public school learning by using curriculums while others depend on child led learning commonly referred to as Unschooling.
Curriculum users or "Structured" homeschoolers have goal-oriented learning days based on either pre-purchased curriculum sets or lesson plans created by the parents or other individuals. The parents are heavily involved as teacher or instructor.
Curriculums are available through a wide range of sources. The Internet has played a major role in being able to offer dozens of pre-constructed curriculums online or through catalogs). Once almost impossible to find, companies catering to the homeschooling families grew overnight. These companies usually offer curriculums in two categories: Secular (non-religious based) and Non-Secular (religious based). From Oak Meadow to Abeka and Konos, there is a homeschooling curriculum to fit everyone's teaching style.
Unschoolers let the child lead learning in what interests them. Largely unscripted, they view life as their curriculum and learn according to daily interests. One of the most recognized names in the Unschooling philosophy is John Holt. Holt, along with many others, offers dissertations as well as books written on the subject of Unschooling as not only a teaching style but also a way of life.
Choosing to be a "Curriculum User" or an "Unschooler" in no way binds homeschooling to one particular philosophy or another. Most curriculum users as well as unschoolers find themselves using techniques from both philosophies to better enable them to teach their children in whatever way they best learn a particular subject.
For those homeschoolers wishing companionship and educational activities in groups, Cooperatives (also called co-ops) offer the homeschooler additional benefits of play groups and learning activities with people who share a common interest in the home-education of their children. This also addresses the commonly asked question, "What about socialization?" by providing homeschoolers the opportunity to participate in activities usually associated with large group activities reserved for public and private schools such as science fairs, art shows, sports teams and music ensembles.
While legal in all 50 states in the US, homeschooling is not legal in every country. The Netherlands and Germany for example, have a compulsory school law. Despite some countries' legal issues, the homeschooling movement is still the fastest alternative education program in the world. Actual numbers of homeschoolers are difficult to obtain because so many families continue to homeschool their children "underground" in an effort to maintain anonymity while avoiding the repercussions of local authorities. However, according to the National Home Education Research Institute, during the 1996-1997 school year, there were between 700,000 and 1.15 million home schooled children in the United States. A significant increase from the estimated 12,500 in 1978.
Organizations, such as the National Home Education Network, are available for legal and practical advice in almost areas of homeschooling in the United States. Most states also have an association or organization to address homeschooling needs unique to their state laws and requirements as well.
"Education Otherwise" offers citizens of the UK all information they need as well as supplying "emergency help lines" for those who require it.
With the growth of homeschooling across the world, a wealth of information has been discovered and rediscovered about homeschooling. The Internet has played a crucial role in bringing homeschoolers together and joining families across the world as a community. One of the oldest standing reliable resources on the Internet has been Jon Shemitz' "Homeschool Resource Page." Another recognized name on the Internet is Ann Zeise whose works on A to Z Home's Cool provide valuable information for US families trying to homeschool their children.
Homeschooling is not new by any means. Some famous homeschoolers include George Washington, Queen Elizabeth II, Theodore Roosevelt, Thomas Edison, up to the modern day popular music group, Hanson. Homeschoolers have been seen more and more in the news with the recent National Spelling Bee winner (1998) being a homeschooler as well as the National Geography champion (1999) boasting of his homeschooling background.
Homeschooling is the reclaiming of the education of our children in all aspects of life.
